Religious leaders give witness to the outreach of Greenwich Bible Study For a wider grasp of the impact of Debbie Reynolds' Greenwich Bible Study across town, Greenwich Citizen spoke with representatives of various religious establishments, starting with The Rev. Dr. Jim Lemler of Christ Church Greenwich where Reynolds was a member and started her first Greenwich Bible Study Group. On Friday mornings we have a men's prayer group, "Men on Fire, " with speakers where women are invited. Rabbi Mitchell Hurvitz of Temple Sholom explained, "Rev. Lemler and I co-founded our Sholom Center for Interfaith Learning and Fellowship to help facilitate and coordinate the programmatic growth in interfaith study." At the temple, he said, We have a weekly study group on Tuesdays at noon, Lunch and Learn, which I started 19 years ago with three students and that now regularly draws 35 people. At Stanwich Congregational Church, where Debbie is now a member, there are more than a dozen Bible study groups, says Associate Pastor Joan Osgood, "We have one probably every day of the week." Osgood's time at Stanwich stretches back 24 years to the early years of Greenwich Bible Study. Since those earlier days, Osgood says, Bible study groups have increased here a great deal. Osgood says, Greenwich Bible Study became so popular that it spread out to other churches. Women would go back to their churches and say `Why don't we have these Bible study groups?' Catholic mothers were coming to Debbie's Bible study group.

Debbie Reynolds recently stood in the entryway of the Greenwich Country Club luncheon room, surveying the scene of more than 300 people. The Wednesday noon event that filled the room to nearly standing room only was the 22nd annual Greenwich Bible Study (GBS) Luncheon, which featured two speakers who would prove to be motivating: Gretchen Carlson, a FOX News host, and Carla Harris, a dynamo Morgan Stanley Managing Director and gospel singer, named by Fortune Magazine as one of "The 50 Most Powerful Black Executives in Corporate America." "How thankful I was to be able to pass this event on to younger people -- two thirds of the crowd were 50 and under," she says. Over the years, as people learned about GBS, they were given the tools to start their own groups with their friends in their own homes. A friend in Los Angeles took her to a Community Bible Study group (a national organization of Bible study groups) where she saw a church "full of friendly, happy, lovely women." Instead of discussing a paragraph of scripture or a religious book, she says, I wanted to get people to understand the Bible as a whole. In that first year, Debbie formed a committee of a dozen or more people to help launch her Greenwich Bible Study group. To further grow GBS, she created an annual, high-profile GBS luncheon with inspirational speakers. Debbie wanted to engage more young people in GBS. [...] the third, she says is having helped launch a Catholic Bible study group. Looking across at the room filled with well-dressed young women, Harris had said of the 22nd GBS Luncheon, "That's a big deal," and again, "That's a big deal."

The 48 students from Greenwich Country Day got hands-on experience with actual surgical equipment including drills, plates and screws that they used to screw, pin together and insert supportive plates into realistic synthetic broken forearms. Students were supervised by orthopaedic surgeon, Sports Medicine Specialist and Greenwich resident Dr. Kevin Plancher, chairman of OFALS, who created the "Doctor for a Day" Program to serve as a medical education outreach resource for top science students.

Local tight-knit group to perform at Greenwich Town Party The aptly named Local Talent will be among the bands performing at the Greenwich Town Party on May 23. The band, which specializes in classic rock covers, is made up of Christian Hoffmeister, Vocals, Bass; Danny Walsh, Vocals, Guitar, Keys, Saxophone; David Corbo, Vocals, Guitar; Dennis Czarneski, Drums; Geordie Van Nostrand, Vocals, Guitar; Mike Milazzo, Vocals, Guitar and Joey Zannino, Vocals. Greenwich Citizen caught up with the group's drummer, Dennis Czarneski, to ask him about the band's musical influences, their passion for playing together and their upcoming appearance at the Greenwich Town Party. Local Talent came together five years ago to play at the Pemberwick Community Party. What kind of music do you play? Who are some of your musical influences? Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, The Grateful Dead, The Band, The Who, Pearl Jam, The Misfits, The Clash What's it like sharing a bill with acts like that? Mike Milazzo is the only member of our band who is a full-time professional musician. [...] these artists are big-time musicians who tour the world. What can the crowd expect from you guys? Rocking tunes a little off the beaten path. [...] the Beastie Boys "License to Ill" kinda changed rock and rap forever.

On finding community and a true home in Greenwich How long have you lived in Greenwich? How do you think Greenwich has changed since you've moved here? The only change is I've gotten to know people more in the Greenwich community. Even if we don't hang with the polo crowd -- with the sub-groups of the RMA and the RTM it's an uncategorically diverse town. What was a significant memory or defining moment in your childhood? Do you have a favorite book? What music do you listen to and what is a favorite piece of music? Folk music -- Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, and Irish folk music, Van Morrison and the Chieftans. If you could tell the President of the United States one thing, now, what would it be? With people they will encounter along the way, they will make a positive difference in the world. If you had a magic wand what would you wish for? Small acts of kindness from person to person -- to those you know and those you meet. Technology contributes to this -- people with their devices. There's a book, "Bowling Alone," that tells about the days when bowling was a big social event and people went out at night to bowl and be together. Best piece of advice to give to the younger generation? Make your own decisions and get used to living with them. When you have children you have to make a choice -- to hug them to you or let them go to grow and take chances.